Donk taking patient approach with unbeaten Fingal's Cave
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – After watching his 3-year-old New York-bred filly Fingal’s Cave open her career with two one-sided victories by a combined 17 1/2 lengths, one could forgive trainer David Donk for getting a little excited when talking about his latest prospect. But that’s just not Donk’s style.
Donk breezed Fingal’s Cave five furlongs in 1:00.80 here Thursday morning, her first work since drawing off to a nine-length decision going seven furlongs against statebred, entry-level allowance competition at Belmont Park three weeks earlier. A few hours later, he calmly spoke about what the future might hold for the daughter of Carpe Diem owned by Alifyfe Racing LLC.
“She’s done well since her last race,” Donk said. “Today was her first breeze back. She finished up well, has really nice extension. I know she’s a nice filly, but in fairness she didn’t beat a whole lot of competition. She only won a maiden and a one-other-than allowance. But she’s got good numbers.”
Fingal’s Cave earned an 81 Beyer Speed Figure for the allowance win and a 75 for the maiden win.
Donk said he’s looking at another allowance race for her next start, with the $200,000 Fleet Indian for 3-year-old New York-bred fillies going 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 26 his main goal at this meet.
“She checks a lot of boxes, we’ll see as we go race to race,” Donk said. “The next race will be longer because we have the Fleet Indian at the end of the meet. That would be the target right now. I’m older and hopefully more patient, and we just want to do the right thing by the filly. It’s a gradual process.”
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